Andrew Valmon is in his 10th season at the helm of the Maryland track and field program. His experience as an Olympic Gold Medalist, combined with 16 years of collegiate coaching and an expanding experience on the international level have helped bring Maryland's cross country and track programs to prominence.

During that time, Maryland athletes in the program have earned numerous All-America honors.

In the summer of 2012, Valmon reached the highest level of his coaching career when he was chosen as the head coach of the U.S. track & field team at the London Olympics. As a result of Valmon's leadership, Team USA achieved the second highest medal count in history. Twenty-nine medals were earned in the sport of track & field, including nine gold, 13 silver, and seven bronze.

Prior to the 2012 Olympics, Valmon served as an assistant coach at the 2009 World Outdoor Championships in Berlin, Germany, and as the head coach for the 2010 World Indoor Championships team in Doha, Qatar. Prior to coaching at the World Championship level, Valmon served USA Track & Field as the relay coach for the national team that competed at the 2008 NACAC Championship in El Salvador.

Valmon comes back to College Park this season ready to share his Olympic experiences and propel the team to new heights. Highlights from the past season include those at the ACC, NCAA, and International levels.

In ACC action, Maryland made a strong presence with multiple athletes earning spots on the podium to celebrate all-ACC performances. Post-Season competition found 9 Terps qualified for the NCAA first round competition. From here, Zack Ray (hurdles), Kiani Profit (Heptathlon), and Jon Hill (High Jump), all moved on to the final rounds of competition.

While Valmon prepped for his time abroad, Kiani Profit also joined him at the Olympic Trials as a qualifier in the Heptathlon. In the upcoming season, Valmon is looking for continued success by the young group on his hands. He will also rely on senior leadership to guide the team to a successful campaign.

As focused as he has been on improving place finishes in competition, Valmon has also established high expectations for his student-athletes in other areas. During his tenure, the men's team received the ACCs Sportsmanship Award and men's cross country has been honored numerous times with the University of Maryland's President's Cup for having the highest team GPA. Valmon has also made community service a mandatory responsibility of each team member.

While serving as the Terrapin head coach, Valmon's profile has also continued to rise in the USATF and United States Olympic Committee (USOC) communities. In the summer of 2004, Valmon was selected to a distinguished, NCAA/USOC panel to address Olympic sport concerns. The panel met throughout 2004 and 2005, before presenting its recommendations on creative ways to increase the visibility of various Olympic sports.

Valmon, who won two Olympic Gold Medals during his career as an athlete, came to Maryland in 2003 after serving on the track and field staff at Georgetown University beginning in 1995.

After joining the Hoyas as an assistant coach, Valmon became an associate head coach before serving as head coach of the Hoyas men's team for his final four seasons there. While there, he worked primarily with the sprinters, half-milers and jumpers. He helped lead the Hoya men to numerous indoor and outdoor championships at the Big East and IC4A Conference levels including the first IC4A Outdoor title in school history

As a result of the numerous titles, Valmon has been honored by the U.S. Track Coaches Association with regional awards. In 2002, he was awarded the President's Award by USA Track and Field for his contributions to both USATF and to the sport of track and field. He has been a member of USATF's Athletes Advisory Committee.

Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Valmon forged an outstanding career as a professional and Olympic level 400-meter runner. He earned gold medals as a member of the United States 4x400 relay teams in the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games. Valmon earned spots on 13 U.S. National Teams, also earning golds at the 1990 Goodwill Games, the 1993 World Championships and the 1994 Goodwill Games. He owns a personal-best of 44.28 in his specialty and was ranked as high as fourth in the world at various times in his career. Valmon still holds the World Record as a member of the 1993 World Championship 4x400m relay team that clocked a time of 2:54.29.

His record of achievement as an athlete and coach made Valmon an excellent choice to become the new Terrapin head coach in 2003 as summarized at the time by former Maryland Director of Athletics Deborah Yow, "Andrew brings a unique combination of talent, commitment, teaching and community involvement that will take our track and field program to the next level of excellence. He has the kind of experience and passion for track that will attract very talented student-athletes to our program. He will develop and inspire them athletically and academically to achieve their best potential."

Renaldo Nehemiah, a Maryland alumnus who was a three-time NCAA national champion, also noted Valmon's stature as an accomplished member of the track and field community.

"I think it's a great hire," said Nehemiah. "To have a young, enthusiastic coach there will be very good for the university. He has a lot of respect in the track and field community. He's a hungry, aggressive person who will revitalize a program that has a storied background."

Valmon is the founder of the Avenue Program (www.avenueprogram.com), an organization designed to positively impact the lives of underprivileged youths by introducing them to successful athletes and professionals, as well as organizing track and field clinics.

He earned a bachelor's degree in communications in 1987 from Seton Hall University, where he is a member of the Hall of Fame after becoming a three-time All-American. He still holds the Big East Conference championships record in the 400 and was named the Outstanding Performer of the meet after winning the 400 and participating on two winning relay teams for the Pirates in the 1987 meet.

Valmon is married to Meredith Rainey Valmon, a seven-time U.S. national champion and two-time Olympian in the women's 800. The couple and their three children reside in Rockville, Md.